Young Palestinians launch initiative to revive Al-Shifa Medical Complex

By Noor Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Young Palestinians launched a volunteer initiative on Sunday to clean the Al-Shifa Medical Complex west of Gaza City and to restart it at a minimal level by preparing the kidney dialysis department for operation.

“Young people have initiated a volunteer effort to clean the Al-Shifa Medical Complex from dust and medical waste in order to provide minimal medical care to patients in Gaza and to operate the kidney dialysis department,” said Mahmoud Hammad, the director-general of administrative affairs at the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

“The hospital has suffered significant damage, but the initiative will work on preparing, cleaning and sterilizing it to restart its operation, especially the kidney dialysis department,” he added.

Hammad said there are “patients in Gaza who will face inevitable death if they do not undergo kidney dialysis sessions.”

He pointed to the extensive destruction of all facilities at the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, saying there is no facility without damage to devices and equipment.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala